For just shy of three decades, four directors - including Spielberg himself - have tried, and failed, to recapture the magic of the seminal classic Jurassic Park .
But despite the disappointment that was previous outing Fallen Kingdom , Dominion appeared to have a good shot at the seemingly impossible task as it brings back a trio of key characters from the original and begins in a world where dinosaurs and humans are finally co-existing.
Alas, Dominion only rates as another enjoyable but deeply flawed sequel that once again falls way short of the rip-roaring 1993 launching pad.
The main reason for this is it doesn’t live up to its hugely promising set-up. For the first half-hour or so we get to see what a true Jurassic World looks like but then it’s back to isolated locations and enclosed set pieces.
Colin Trevorrow returns to direct for the second time in this new trilogy, having given Fallen Kingdom a miss, and still proves adept at wowing our senses with action sequences, such as a Bourne Identity -like raptor and motorbike chase in Malta and an aerial attack by a Pteranodon.
It’s also to Trevorrow and his creative team’s credit that most of the film’s non-human characters are brought to life using practical effects.
However, possibly down to the laws of diminishing returns, the dinosaurs just don’t have the same sense of wonder, or menace, as they once guaranteed.
A lot rides on the human cast, then, and there’s no doubt there is a thrill seeing Laura Dern ( Ellie ), Sam Neill ( Alan ) and Jeff Goldblum ( Ian ) together again, and mixing with Chris Pratt ( Owen ) and Bryce Dallas Howard ( Claire ).
Dern and Neill in particular are great, although Goldblum takes rather too much delight in mocking much of what is going on.
As good as anyone, though, is DeWanda Wise as cargo pilot Kayla .
Dominion has its moments but for a movie closing out 29 years of Jurassic adventures, you’d expect better than a muddled plot and the bungling of the dinosaurs running riot among us storyline that promised so much.
● What are your thoughts on Jurassic World Dominion? Are you a fan of the Jurassic movies and, if so, which is your favourite? Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments to your fellow readers.
● Jurassic World Dominion is showing in cinemas now.
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